'Write off business rates to help us survive' pleads Sheffield landlord after councils granted powers to extend hospitality lockdown to July

Nick Simmonite, of the Frog and Parrot on Division Street, said business rates bills for last year, worth thousands of pounds, should be ‘written off’ to help the sector survive.

It comes after they made little income in 2020 and had a business rates ‘holiday’ allowing payments to be deferred.

But the debt is still owed – and this year’s bills are starting to arrive.

Meanwhile, schemes including furlough, VAT reduction, Covid grants and a moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent should be extended too.

Boris Johnson has suggested lockdown could remain in place until summer, with no guarantee of when hospitality services will reopen.

And the government has extended local authority lockdown powers until 17 July.

Mr Simmonite said permanent closures meant less income for the council when they were facing a huge shortfall.

He added: “It’s better to work with pubs to make sure they can contribute in future. We also employ a lot of people. The industry has been decimated and last year’s business rates should be written off.

“Sheffield should follow Blackpool’s lead.”

Blackpool Council has written off £550,000 in unpaid business rates.

It is estimated that Sheffield’s night-time economy is worth more than £600 million, with around 1,600 businesses involved.

Mr Simmonite is chair of Sheffield hospitality forum Unight which has about 45 members in the city centre.

He added: “We have been doing this for a year now, but if we’re closed until July we need something in place to ensure those who survive come back strongly and safely.”

Most were in hibernation for the sake of staff who were on furlough, he added. But they were ready to bounce back.

The Star has contacted Sheffield City Council for comment.

The Prime Minister announced a national lockdown on January 4.

He initially said it could begin to ease after the mid-February school holidays, but has since suggested schools might not go back until Easter.

As two doses of the vaccine will not be administered to all priority groups until mid-July, there is growing concern lockdown could remain in place until later summer.

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